Window screen



Aug

R. E. BLACKBURN wmpow SCREEN Patented Aug. 3, 1926, p

ROBERT n. BLACKBURN,- oF Los ANGELES, cnrimonnm.

vvnvmovv` SCREEN.

Application led November 8, 1922. g Serial No. 599,676.

This invention includes la structure which is applicable to various kinds offrames such as the frames for the closures of Windows and doors; but it is more particularly in tended for use for the fran'ies of retculated wire screens for excluding insects from openings into buildings, and it is applicable to what are known full screens and also to half screens; and to suspended, sliding, hinged, and stationary screens. Its description and illustration as a suspended screen will be sufficient `for the purposes of this specification.l

Various objections obtain in the use of ordinary wooden frame wire window screens. .Amongst such objections may be noted the following:

First. The'lateral tension of the wire cloth or web tends to bow the stilcs of the screen frame toward .each other and pressure upon the middle ot' the web is llkely to cause the web. to become loose and bellied, Second. The wooden stiles are likely to bow out from lat form, thus leaving cracks between the screen stiles and the frame to which they are fitted', `when the screen is fastened to theframe of the screened opening only at lthe top and bottom.

Third. The joints of the. four corners of the screen frame are ,likelyto be frail and easily loosened. M,`,,vm,` ,f 4

Objects of this invention are to provide a screen which is free from any of the fore* going objections, and this I do by roviding va combination of wood and mota and in carrying outthis invention,I provide two rabbeted rails, each having a saw ker at each of its ends, and I connectl these rails by resilient metal stile strips 'of appropriate length by inserting the ends of such strips in the saw kerts and securing them by screws in the wooden rails, and `fastening to each of suchv floating strips, wooden stile moldings and rail spacers, the faces of which p are flush with the faces ofthe rabbets on the rails, so that faces of such rabbets and moldings lie in a common plane and form nailcloth may be tacked; and such moldings lare not rigid to the rails, but are movable edge-l Wise toward and from each other and may be yieldingly held apart by the resilience of the stile strips to which said moldingsare fixed; and I give to the stile strips a permanent set or edgewise outward bow away ing faces to which the web or wire screen from each other as hereinafter set forth so that stile strip tension is applied tohold the web orwire mesh taut; and furthermore by the combination with the wooden moldings and the stile strips to which said moldings are fastened and the rails to which the stile strips are fastened., it is possible for the screen frame to be given abend re-. verse to that which the warping action of the Weather may give to the wooden Stiles of the common wooden screen frame construction, so `that in the case of suspended screens in which the top of the screen is fastened to the windowV casing, anda fastening 1s applied to secure the lower end `of the screen to the lower end of the casing, the l screen frame will lie flat and in close coning to which the screen isfitted.

In carrying out this invention, I have propractical form of resilient vmetal `thus allowing the screen to be handled in knock-down form, and easily put together at a buildingor at the openings where they `are to be installed.v

In order to avoid the objections noted, and to provide a fiat, straight rigid non-warpable Window screen having parallel lateral edges, I provide for each screen, two complementary angle steelstile strips, each of which is `longitudinally bent to form an inner stile member or," facing and an angle member or edgin practically at. right angles thereto; and preIerably said stile stripsdare `also respectively provided witha third or flange member, at right Vangles to the V'seoond, that is to say, to the intermediate or. angle member, and said angle member, and ,forming a tiange to fit against the stop orcasing of the window frame.

These angle stile strips are Z-strips in and the invention is broadly new, basic and tact with the stops or casing of the open,d

projecting away from pioneer in that I have provided for 'and ap-l plied to the screen frame a Z-strip for closing the crack between the screen frame and the frame such as the window frame in a build-l ing to which the screen is applied; and they lalso afford metal faces or abutments to contact with the window frame to which the screen frame may be fitted, and in the case of screens that slide up and down the middle members oI-the- Zstiips serve as smooth runners to slideldba'th-sides of the window frame. f c

Said Z-strips maybe made to afford the required stability for keeping the 'sc reen mesh taut; and this is done by forming the metal strips with an outward bow, securing them at their ends to the rails of the window screen; attaching to the strips respectively, moldings that are free from the rails; imposing an edgewise deflection on the strips toward each other, and opposed to the bow;

fastening the edges of the screen web to the moldings and thereby to the outwardl bowed resilient strips, so that said outwar ly bowed resilient strips develop a force to draw the moldings apart to keep the screen web tant. I give the twoy complementary angle steel Z-strips a permanent edgewise set so thatwhen put in lace they bow slightly away from elich ot er so that when the lateral edges of the wire cloth are fastened to .the

Z-strips bythe fastening moldings and rail spacing members as hereinafter set forth,

edges, and said rails' are slotted 1n the ends by saw kerfs extending fiush with the rabbets and from/edge to edge or' each rail, and I provide floating rail spacers or stile moldings fiush with said rabbets and with the Aends o'vthe rails, to receive the flat wire screen cloth, and I fasten said cloth, preferably. by tacks, to the Hush faces of the rabbets and the floating moldings. I then ap ly the angle steel Z strips with the ends of iiiieir inner members inserted into the kerfs and with the fiat faces of such members on'the faces of the rabbets, with the moldings flat against said fiat faces and with the angle memberIoutside the moldings and againstv the ends of the rails.

I then apply pressure to the insi'de ot each molding and to'the outside of the adjacent angle member of the curved steel Z stri s, thereby drawing them into close longitu inal contact; and then fix them securely tc- Agether by screws,

In drawing-the angle members of the curved steel Z strips into contact with thc outer edges of the parallel moldings, the curved steel Z strips are rendered straight and parallel. But in thus rendering the curved steel Z strips straight and parallel, there is developed in them a lateral outward stress sufficient to hold the Lire cloth taut without any bowing of the Stiles `edgewise toward each other.

1 Next I apply, over the wire cloth tacked on the rabbets of the rails, and over theinner member of the `angle steel Z strips, wooden fillets; and I brad cach fillet to its rabbet. Then a hole is drilled into cach corner of the frame and through the inner members of the iingle,'stecl Z strips, and screws are inserted in said holes, thus completing the screen. I

An object is to provide a screen having metallic stiles that can be easily and cheaply manufactured in quantities, and that are adapted to receive the floating wooden moldings and resiliently hold them in true position.

A further object is to provide for suspended window screens :i frame structure that will be complete in itself and ready to hang without any hardware additional to the fixture fastened on the window frame.

A further object is to so construct the screen that it can be used interchangeably for swinging and for sliding screens.

The invention is broadly new, basic and pioneer in that tho frame is constructed with a sheet metal Z-strip stile with a flange extension and has a wooden molding; said stile and flange heilig [,ii'ef'eralily, relatively offset, and toi-mcd with a double angle to give it 'greater rigidity.

An important object is .to give perfect' rigidity to the joints of the screen; and to effect this, the jaws formed at the ends of the rails/'by the saw kerfs, tit the inner members of lthe stiles tightly and seat them fully so that the angle member may bc fitted tightlyagainst the square ends of the rails; and so that when screws are screwed home through the jaws at one side of' the wooden rails and through the metal Z-strip Stiles and into the jaws'on the other side of the Z-shaped stile strips, the joints aix 'hin rigid and true, but can be: easily released by takin out the screws, and then, by removing t e fillets and the stile strips from over the screen cloth, such cloth can be removed and replaced with great convenience and without any injury to the frame.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying;r drawing, the subjoined detail description and the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

Figure l is a perspective outside view of a frame structure constructed in accordance with this invention, showing e window screen 'adaptedlto be hung in a window- Fig. 3. ig. is a ,perspective view of one of a pair of screen hangers adapted to support the screen.

Fi .x6 is an elevation of one of the sheet meta stile strips as it comes from the .OIIFIP` ing machine not shown, ready to be fastened at its ends to the frame.

Fig. 7 is a fragmental view of the inside.I

ofa screen fromwhieh the metal stile strip A.shown in Fig..6 has been removed.

Fig. his a fragmental cross section of the screen on line ai, Fig. 3.

, Fig. 9 is a fragmental. seetion'on line fr",

Fig.` 3, enlarged.`

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmental View partly in section across a stile, showing ineens for` retaining avshding screen `in a window frame. i,

Fig. 11 1s an edgeview. of a screen hinged in a frame and readyto be brought,` fiati. against the same when fastened at the bottom. The bowing oft e"screen Stiles is exaggerated iorclearnessof illust-ration.

Fig. 12 is a fifagrdental faeeview of the screen partly assembled, With the bow ot 'the `loose 'stile strip exaggerated for elearness of illustration.

The double anglesheet `metal Z-strip 1 is struck up from a body of sheet metal of suitable strength and.resilieneycomprising the stile facing 2, stile edglng or offset-pon `tion 3 and the lange 4. The stile facing 2` andlange 4 in opposite directions from the edging and extend in arallel planes and are connected by the e ging or offset` portion 3. Each frame is built up of two double angle metallic `stile strips et' Zlshaped cross. section thatexter1`d from .end to end of the two edges of the framei and a wooden reinforcement spacing meni'ber ormolding 5 extending between the rails 6 and 7 on one side of the reticulated wire screen web '8 which is secured by any suit-able means as the taclrs 9 to the wire screen receiving faces 10 and 11. of the stile molding 5 and of the rails, each of which may be made of a single piece, or may be built up et' more than one piece.

` Thestil'c moldings `5 are thus loose from the rails` and are movable edgewise toward v'and from eachother and are adapted tobe forced apart to stretch the webb.

.Each rail 'is rovided at each-end with a slot 11 preferab yformed by a sa-W kerf, and

The frame of the screen is thus constructed of steel and wood. As shown in Fig. 12 the 'wooden parts of the screen arc the top andbottomrails 6 and 7, and the` two fioating stile moldings 5.

WVhile the wooden parts 6, 7 and 5 are clamped in .place on an assembling table,

not shown, .and are thereby held in the relative positions they are to occupy in the `inished screen, the web 8 of wire cloth is As they come from the forming machine,

not shown, these stile strips are straightv as indicated in Fig. Before the,L resilient metal stile strips aresecnred to the wooden moldings of the traine, they are bent into a curved form exaggeratingly shown in Fig. 12. Then the ends of the steel stile strips .are inserted. into the slots or stile seats l1, and are secured by binding screws 12.

lVlien thus fixed in the kerts of the rails 6, '7, the two stile strips bow` away `from each other as indicated by the bowed `stile strip at the left side oli Fig. 12, and sadbowed resilient stile strips are then drawn straight into the shape indicated at the right ot Fig.

12, and are brought into parallelism, and

. side ot Fig. l2, without taking out the per- Inanentset and tendency to bow in dicatcd at the right of Fig. 12;. so that the resilient metal stile strips remain under strain and will exert a spring-like. pull tending to 'force the moldings away from each other,

thus to hold the web taut.

Y, When the screen web 8 is nailed tothe faces l() of the stile molding 5 and to the nailing'faees 11 of the rails G, 7 to form the Wire mesh panel of the screen, the metallic double .angle or Z-shaped stile strips will be placed in position to cover the nailed edges of the screen material with portions of the stile ends extending into and through the lrerfs 11 in the ends of rails 6, 7; and secured by means of the long binding screws 12 extending from one side of the rails, respectively, and through the iaeings 2 and nearly to the other side ot' the rails. Short screws 13 extend 4through the stile facings 2 into the reinforcing stile molding 5.

. The screen frames can be. either hung, hinged, or slide-bly mounted in window openings. When hung, hangers 14 lare secured to the jambs 15 of the window frame v of the rails.

` sion so that the moldings are drawn apart so that when hung thereon, the bottom end ot' the screen frame can be swung outward as indicated by the dotted line position in Fig. 4. By this mounting.; the screen frame for full or half Screens can be qiiickl and easily suspended in place to close the window opening, and may bens easily removed.

Means are provided for holding the lower end of the screen frame in close contact with the inclined-face f of the window sill; and for locking against outward movement.. A lever latch 19 is pii'otally mounted on the screw pin 20 in the bottom rail 7, in position to engage the lug 2l on the retaining screw 22, fixed to the sill f, thus to lock the screen from outward movement, und to fiatten the screen under strain and to maintain it in fiat form and in close contact, throughout., with the stops or jams l5.

The screen frames can be sl'idably connected to the window frame :is indicated in Fig. l0, wherein, a guide strip 23 is secured to the window frame in position to engage the flange ft to hold suoli flange in contact 'i with the window frame. There is a guide strip 93 for each flange 4 and these guides are preferably of renter length than the screen frames so t-at the latter can have considerable upward movement in a window openinv. The latch 19 can be attached to the sli ing frame and locked to hold such frame' in fixed position.

When the web has been nailed to the nailing faces of the rails, and to the spacing members, and the metal stile strip has been inserted into the saw kerfs and secured to the rails bythe long screws 12 and to the reinforcement spacing members 5, then the finished fillets 24' are laced in the rabbet over the web and fixedpto the nailing faces vI claim Y l. In a screen thel combination with edgewise resilient stile strips having; facing members and having a normal outward bow, rails holding the endsof the -stilestrips apart; moldings free-from the rails landifiied to the facing members between tile rails; and ay web fastened to the molding and rails; said web holding the stile strilp's in tension so that the tendency of the perimanent edgewise set of the resilient stile strip is to hold the web taut. Q

2. A. screen compi-isili resilient. metal stile strips bowed outwardly edgewise 'and having a permanent set; rails fixed to the ends of the stile' strips; moldings fastened to the stile strips and free from the rails; and wire netting fixed tothe rails and to the molding, and holdin@` the stiles under tenby the stile strips, and in turn hold the netting taut.

3. A screen comprising resilient flanged stile strips, -shape in cross section` having a permancntset and bowed from each other; rails fastened to the faces of the stile strips to hold the ends of the stile strips apart; the flanges of said stile strips extending laterally beyond the ends of the rails; moldings 10 'fixed to faces of the stile strips and free from the rails; and a sheet of screen material fixed at its edges to said moldings and holding said stile strips under tension so that the resiliency ot' said stile strips tends to 7U hold the screen material taut.

4. A screen having rsils and Stiles, moldings fixed to the stiles and movable relative to the rails, and webbing fixed to the moldings, said stiles comprising normally edgewise'bowed resilient members which are sprung into oliiieincnt upon asseinblinfr the 'purpose of which is to give an outwordnpull on the moldings in order to keep the screen taut.

5. A screen comprising normally out- .vzirdly bowed stile members, rails holding the ends of the stile members spart, moldings fastened to the stile members and free from the rails in order that said moldings may have n slight outward movement relative to the rails, and a screen panel fastened to the moldings and deflccting into alinement the normally outwardly bowed resilient stile members so that the tension of said stile l members serves to hold the screen panel taut.

6. n a screen having a wire mesh panel and e frame structure constructed with rails and Stiles; a stile comprising a wooden member and n sheet metal member, said sheet metal member being longitudinally bent to Z-shape in cross section, constituting a facing portion, an intermediate, edging portionv at right angles tothe facing.; portion and a flan e portionextciiding in ii plane parallel 10Bl to t e plane of the facing portion; said facing and flange portions extending in opposite directions from the intermediate edging portion; said intermediate edgin portion being adapted to fitiigainst the e ge of the wooden member of the stile; one of said faeingand flange portions, being tixed fiativise to the wooden member of the stile und adapted to fit flatwise upon the casing or flan stop of a window so that the stile strip forms n, closure for the crack between the screen frame and the window frame.

7. A screen provided with two complementary angle steel stile strips euchl of which islongitudinslly bent to Z-sliape in cross section and forms an inner stile member or fec- 5 ing', mi intermediate angle momberfor edging" sorted inf' said kerfs, and edging igitir'iat`thV 159 planey parallel to theA planeo! ends of the rails; and a 'flange from said edging adapted toeiga wire cloth fastened on the rabbets and mold-` ings; means fastening the wooden moldings to the inner members of the Stiles with the cloth between the moldings and the Stiles and between the rabbets and the Stiles; and scriws fastening the inner members to the rai s.

l0. A screen .frame provided With rails spaced apart byspacing members; a Web secured to said rails and 'spacing members; metallic stiles fastened to the rails and liaving an edgewise set so that said stiles bow away4 from each other, said stiles being adapted to be rendered straight and parallel to develop a lateral outward stress; and means to secure said stiles to-said spacing members so that said stiles will exert-aintu eral outward. stress upon said web to hold said web taut;

11. A frame structure comprising sheet metal stiles fixed to and spaccdapart by nails; Wooden spacing members between the rails adjacent the metal stiles and loose yfrom said rails so that they may move outwardly: a sheet of s'creen material secured to said rails and spacing members; and

means for securing the metal stiles to the` wooden spacing' members and rails, whereby 'a tension is applied to said spacing members to hold the screen taut.

12. A screen comprising a frame constructed with rails, and stiles, and a sheet` of screen material secured to the stiles; one of the stiles comprising a resilient sheet metal strip having a permanent edgewise outward bow to exert a pull on the screen i'naterial to keep it stretched. when said stile is resting in alineinent with therails.

13. A frame structure comprisingr rails; sheet metal stilcs fixed to and spaced apart by said rails; wooden spaciiig members ad-v jacent to and parallel with the Vmetal .stiles and loose from the rails so that said rails may ha ve a slight outward movement a .web

secured to the rails and spacing members: und means attacliiirer the metal stiles to the end rails a ndto the wooden sparii'ig members with the web between the sparing Vmembers and the stilcs so that a tension is applied to said rails and web.

.14. A frame structure comprising rails, stiles spaced apart by said rails and having a facing, a flange, and an edging connecting said facing and flange; moldings adapted to space said rails apart; a web secured to said rails and moldings; there being kerfs in the ends of said rails to receive the ends of said stiles; and means to secure said rails andY moldings to said Stiles.,

15. `The screen frame substantially set 'forth in which the rails arewooden, and are provided withkerfs in their ends, and the Stiles are` of sheet metal and formed within permanent edgeivise outward set away from eachother and are each provided with a facing which extends into the kerfs in the endsof the rails; screws fastening the stile facngs in the ltert's;` Wooden reinforcing spacing members fixed to the stile facings,

`and abutting against the rails, and secured to said facings by fastening means extending through the sheet metal facings, andinto the wooden reinforcing spacing members; said rails being rabbeted to form nailing spaces to which a web may be fastened, and said reinforcing spacing members being Hush with the rabbet faces for the purpose of` forming nailing spaces for securing the webY i to the spacing member; said sheet metal facings being adapted to cover the means by which the web is fastened to the spacing members.

16. The screen frame substantially set v forth in which the rails are Wooden, and are provided with kerfs in their ends, and the stiles are of sheet metal and are each provided with a facing 'which extends into the kerl's in the ends of the rails; screws fastening the stile facings in the kerfs; and Wooden reinforcing spacing members fixed tov the stile faciiigs, and abutting against the rails,

and secured to said facings by fastening means extending through the sheet metal faeings, and into the wooden reinforcing spacing members; said rails being .rabheted to forni nailing spaces to Which a Webmajty be fastened. and said reinforcing spacing members being flush with the rabbet faces for the purpose of forming nailing spaces for securing;r the web to the spacing member; said sheet metal facings being adapted` to rover the means by which the web is fastened to the spacing members; 'and Wooden fillets fixed to and covering the nailing fares of the rails.

17. A screen provided with two compleinentary :ingle steel stile strips cach of which is longitudinally bent to Z form comprising an iiii'icr stile member or facing and an angle member or edging practically at right an-.'

for casing of the window frame: said ed ing and flange forming the lateral `termina of the stile strips.

18. In a window screen the combination with a frame having in its edge a kerf eX- tending longitudinally of the frame; a stile strip longitudinally bent to Z form comprising an inner stile member, an angle member practically at right angles to the inner stile member and a flange member at right angles to the intermediate angle member and pro-r jecting away from said angle member and forming a flange to t against the stop or casing of .the window frame; said edging and flange forming edges that terminate the stile strip laterally.

19. In a Window screen the combination with wooden rails and wooden side members to which the screen panel is fastened, of Z- strips fastened to the side members; anges of the Z extending edgewise from the side members for the purpose of engaging a frame in which said screen may be mounted.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this -31st Clay of October, 1922.

ROBERT E. BLACKBURN. 

